Podium Open Singles preview - Sunday 26th May
The penultimate weekend of Podium Open action takes place on Sunday 26th May with the blue ribbon singles event taking place throughout Scotland.
225 players will compete across 13 separate events being played at 10 different venues across the country. Following on from the Para Pairs, Triples and Fours events, those competing on Sunday will be aiming to showcase their talents in a competitive Singles environment.
Broxburn BC
Scotland internationalist Andy Dunnett will undoubtedly be one of the favourites among the 23 players competing at Broxburn Bowling Club on Sunday. Andy takes on Winchburgh Bowling Club’s Brian Clarkson in his second round encounter.
Tie of the round will take place on rink 1 at 10.30am when current U25 internationalist Dean Riva takes on former Scottish internationalist Ewan Shearer. Both players will be looking to give a strong account of themselves and advance to the second round.
Another intriguing tie sees current U18 and U25 internationalist Logan Kennedy and Scotland para international Mary Wilson collide at 9am.
Buchan Park BC
Craigentinny Bowling Club’s Aaron and Lewis Betts will be looking to build on impressive indoor seasons when they take to the green at Buchan Park Bowling Club this Sunday. Younger brother Aaron comes up against Lucy Joseph, whilst Lewis takes on club teammate Jake Watling.
Two-time Bowls Scotland Gents Fours winner Daniel Gormley is also in action and comes up against Abby Cairns in his opening round encounter.
Scottish para international Ross Noble will be hoping to cause an upset when he comes up against London Road Foundry’s Craig Mackintosh in what could be a closely contested affair.
Dumbarton BC
Dumbarton Bowling Club will host another strong lineup of 24 players on Sunday.
There are several ties taking place which will be too close to call. Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Pauline Wilson takes on Lenzie Bowling Club’s Steven Dow.
Former Bowls Scotland Gents Singles champion Mark O’Hagan can look forward to a second round encounter against Lee Walter at 10.30am.
2023 World Bowls Championships silver medallist Emma McIntyre will be hoping to make full use of home advantage. She takes on David Skewis in her first round match.
There is also a head-to-head family affair to look out for at Dumbarton’s playdown. Jamie Houston takes on youngest daughter Emily, an U18 internationalist, in the first round. The duo finished runners-up at the Podium Open Triples event held at Kilmarnock Portland Bowling Club two weeks ago.
Moray BC A
Moray Bowling Club will be the first of three venues on Sunday to host two separate qualifiers courtesy of being a two green venue.
Fortrose and Rosemarie Bowling Club’s Kyle Ross will be hoping to go one better than his runner-up finish in the Podium Open Triples two weeks ago at The Inverness Bowling Club. He takes on talented youngster Ross Dalgarno in an intriguing first round tie.
U18 internationalist Ellie Rendall will be looking to give a strong account of herself when she takes on Kieran Stephen from Mintlaw Bowling Club in the opening round.
Also from Moray Bowling Club is Sandra Dean, who will be looking forward to facing Kevin Anderson on home turf.
Moray BC B
Tie of the round in Moray Bowling Club’s second singles qualifier looks to be U25 internationalist Lee Trotter taking on former Scottish internationalist Stuart Cruikshank. The winner of this tie could certainly go all the way on Sunday.
Experienced stalwart Mike Stephen will be hoping to roll back the years when he comes up against Dean McPhee in his first-round match.
Look out for Whitehall Bowling Club’s Scott Murray as a potential dark horse for this qualifier. However, Bronagh Gillies will have other ideas when the pair collide in Sunday’s opening round.
Mount Vernon BC A
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Iain McLean will undoubtedly be one of the players to beat at Mount Vernon Bowling Club’s first singles qualifier on Sunday. The two-time Bowls Scotland Gents Singles winner takes on Jack Quigley.
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Robert Barr will also be in action and can look forward to taking on Abronhill Bowling Club’s youngster James Gray.
There will be an all-national champions clash in round one when current Bowls Scotland Gents Pairs holder Ryan Gualtieri comes up against current Bowls Scotland Ladies Triples champion Emma Kennedy.
2023 Hong Kong Classic Women’s Pairs winner Rachel Sinclair faces Cardonald’s talented Kayden Young in another fascinating opening round tie.
Mount Vernon BC B
Former Bowls Scotland Gents Singles winner Darren Gualtieri is sure to be in the hunt to reach the later stages of Mount Vernon Bowling Club’s second qualifier. The Scottish internationalist takes on youngster Blair Hannah from Abronhill Bowling Club.
Darren’s Hyndland Bowling Club teammate Kevin Bain will also be in action against former Bowls Scotland Youth Triples champion Aiden Craigens.
Gail Notman, Bowls Scotland Ladies Triples winner in 2023, will be competing on Sunday and faces Kieran Reynolds from Rothesay Bowling Club in her first round game.
Newbattle BC
Former Bowls Scotland Gents Junior Singles and Gents Singles champion Gordon White from Aberlady Bowling Club will be looking to add to his impressive singles CV on Sunday. The Scottish internationalist comes up against Fraser Clyne at 9am.
Ladies internationalist Chloe Thomson faces Tranent Bowling Club’s Adam Martin in a tough to call first round encounter.
2022 Bowls Scotland Gents Pairs winner Sam Gray from Prestongrange Bowling Club will have his sights set on reaching the later stages but standing in his way is Ryan Brady from Wilton Bowling Club.
Perth BC
2023 European Open Pairs winner Andrew Thomson will be aiming to build on last year’s triumph during Sunday’s Podium Open Singles event at Perth Bowling Club. The former Scottish internationalist faces a tough first round test against Ross Kinnell from Headwell Bowling Club.
Current Bowls Scotland Ladies U25 Singles champion Rachel Pirie will play Ann Milton in an exciting first round tie.
2023 Bowls Scotland Para Open Pairs champion Mark Fleming can look forward to the challenge of taking on home club player Stephen Bodle.
Stanley BC
Jason Banks will certainly be one of the players to look out for during Sunday’s playdown at Stanley Bowling Club. The man from Inverurie takes on Bruce Milne from Canmore Bowling Club in the second round.
Experienced internationalist Lynn Lees from Townhill Bowling Club will need to be in top form when she faces 2023 Bowls Scotland Youth Pairs winner David Cargill.
Fellow Scottish internationalist Andy Furye will be there or thereabouts at the later stages but can expect a tough opening round encounter when he faces former U25 internationalist Mhairi McCall.
Tillicoultry BC A
Scottish internationalist Paul Kane Jnr looks to be one of the early favourites for Tillicoultry Bowling Club’s first Podium Open Singles qualifier. The Airdrie Central Bowling Club player comes up against Alva Bowling Club’s Leah Hunter at 10.30am on Sunday.
Current Bowls Scotland Gents U25 Singles champion Daniel Martin is also competing in the event and takes on Stenhousemuir Bowling Club youngster Logan Craig.
Former Scotland U25 internationalist Dean Jones, now a member at Alloa East End Bowling Club, will do battle with Dalgety Bay Bowling Club’s Hannah McGrory.
Tillicoultry BC B
Former British Isles Ladies Fours winner Eilidh Weir will be aiming to reach the later stages of Sunday’s qualifier. The Alloa East End Bowling Club youngster comes up against David Stewart.
Scottish internationalist Stephanie Wallace is also in action and takes on Fraser Lambert from Whitehall Bowling Club at 9am.
2022 European Open Pairs winner Lyle Robertson faces Causewayhead Bowling Club’s Morgan Williams in his first round tie.
West Kilbride BC
Former Bowls Scotland Gents Pairs champion John Fleming Jnr will be looking to reach the later stages of Sunday’s qualifier at West Kilbride Bowling Club. The Port Glasgow Bowling Club player takes on Conal Sinclair in the second round.
There is an all-internationalist clash in the first round when former Bowls Scotland Gents U25 Singles champion Robert Lenza comes up against Lawra Cox from the home club.
2022 European Championships gold medallist Blair Davidson has a challenging first round encounter as he faces former U25 internationalist Chris Carswell, also a member of West Kilbride Bowling Club.
Best of luck to all 225 players taking part in this weekend’s Podium Open Singles event as part of our Drive to Success – Player Pathway. A full report of results will be provided next week.